Hindus Trying To Get British Goverment To Force Yoga On Christians

christiantoday.com/article/hindu.council.attacks.illegal.church.ban.on.yoga/12812.htm They are claiming that a church barring yoga is a violation of the Religious Equality Act. While some of you religious right sorts would prefer to see this as multiculturalism/political correctness, I see this as a clear church – state issue. The state has authority over the church in Britain and most other nations of the world, so they have the right to do this. Of course, at some point down the line the state in Britain is going to act in favor of the Hindus with the logic that sycnretism in general will lead to less religious discrimination and social unrest. They are going to claim that fundamentalist exclusive claims of any one religion are the cause of all the problems, and demand that all religions become universalist. Of course, you Christians that are for one reason or another demanding that the wall of separation between church and state in America are just asking for the state to come and stamp out true Christianity. Then again, since the correlation between religious belief and adherence to true Christianity is not as strong as some people would like to believe, maybe that is your agenda to begin with. The text of the article is below:

The Hindu Council UK (HCUK), the largest national network of Hindu organisations within the UK, is considering whether a ban on yoga classes at St James’ Church and the Silver Street Baptist Church in Taunton, Somerset, may breach the Equality Act 2006.

Lawyers for HCUK are exploring whether comments made by both The Reverend Tim Jones, Vicar of St James’ and The Reverend Simon Farrar of the Silver Street Baptist Church that yoga is a “sham”, a “false philosophy” and “unchristian” may indicate they have acted contrary to the ‘Religion and Belief’ section of the Act, specifically those parts relating to discrimination in providing goods, facilities and services.

HCUK is also considering whether to ask the Commission for Equality and Human Rights to investigate whether the priests’ comments amount to “instructing or causing discrimination”.

Along with other faith bodies, HCUK debated and contributed to the Equality Act before it became law. In these debates it was agreed unanimously from an interfaith perspective that the hire of religious premises should not restrict multi-cultural events without good reason, and that faiths themselves should participate in such activities.

HCUK General Secretary Anil Bhanot said: “These priests might appear to be advising Christians not to practice yoga because they believe it is based on a ‘sham’ and a ‘false philosophy’ but what in effect they mean is that Hinduism is a false religion.

HCUK’s spokesperson on Yoga, Amarjeet-singh Bhamra added: “Yoga is one of the oldest known medical systems enshrined in the Atharva Veda, the most ancient Hindu book on wisdom, and it is now at the forefront of holistic and integrated medicine in the West.

“It is very disappointing that such medieval-like irrational prejudice is still allowed to flourish in the Christian Church in 21st Century multicultural Britain.”

“Hinduism is an ancient religion that is the source of many different theologies, philosophies and sciences,” adds Anil Bhanot. “Many Hindus believe the source of all music can be found within one of our most ancient scriptures, the Saam Veda. It will be interesting to see, now they have been apprised of this, whether those church leaders who reject yoga will now announce a ban on all music on their premises too.” (Christianity teaches that Jubal was the father of music in Genesis 4:21; it is amazing that this fellow automatically presumes that we would take his scriptures and traditions as being somehow more valid than our own. This is clearly an attempt to coerce Christians into accepting and practicing Hinduism, spiritual imperialism.)

Rev Farrar of Silver Street Baptist Church has previously said: “We are a Christian organisation and when we let rooms to people we want them to understand that they must be fully in line with our Christian ethos.

“Clearly, yoga impinges on the spiritual life of people in a way which we as Christians don’t believe is the same as our ethos.

“If it was just a group of children singing nursery rhymes, there wouldn’t be a problem but she’s called it yoga and therefore there is a dividing line we’re not prepared to cross.”

The Rev Tim Jones, vicar of St James’s, supported the decision, saying: “Any alternative philosophies or beliefs are offering a sham – and at St James’s Church we want people to have the real thing. Yoga has its roots in Hinduism, and attempts to use exercises and relaxation techniques to put a person into a calm frame of mind – in touch with some kind of impersonal spiritual reality.

“The philosophy of yoga cannot be separated from the practice of it, and any teacher of yoga, even to toddlers, must subscribe to the philosophy.

“Yoga may appear harmless or even beneficial, but it is encouraging people to think that there is a way to wholeness of body and mind through human techniques – whereas the only true way to wholeness is by faith in God through Jesus Christ.”

6 Responses to “Hindus Trying To Get British Goverment To Force Yoga On Christians”

Yoga is a way of life and does-not preach any religion. So, don’t be ignorant like the Vicar and use your head. Besides, nobody really cares outside the UK if the churches ban Yoga or not, since that is like hitting the axe on one’s own foot. Yoga helps maitain spiritual and physical wellbeing, so if you don’t want to practice it, don’t. Nobody’s bothered really.

Chrissaid

I think that if the hall was clearly let on a religious basis and was connected with the church then the Christians should be able to decide who rents it. If it is a hall that just happens to belong to the church and is let for all kinds of events then it would be discriminatory to refuse to let it.

I don’t think the comments by the priests need to be so inflammatory. All they needed to say is “sorry this goes against our religion”. I would like to think that if Christians wanted to rent a Hindu hall for a communion service the Hindus would simply decline, not claim that Communion is a sham.

Charles Hartsaid

Yoga does not seem to be a religion but a calming of the spirit and the mind. I don’t practice it but I do like to sit and be silent because the devil attacks us with distraction. How can you hear the spirit if you are never still? Yoga is a name given to an act just as we give a name to everything. We can always glorify God if we do things in fear and to his glory!